Lightning: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Lightning

            Recognize the power

            of the storm

            lightning piercing

            through dark skies

            ground shaking turmoil.

            Realize power

            of Spirit’s prayer

            loosening sin shackles

            timeless fire

            guarding alter of grace.

            

Reflection: Censer: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Does knowing that God will purify your prayers encourage you to pray more boldly? Why? Why not?

2.     What impossible prayers have you held back on thinking they are beyond possibility for you?

3.     How will you pray this week in the light of purified prayers? What flashes of lightning do you most need right now?

4.     Will this change your witness in any way? How?

Share: Where have you seen God’s power intervene through prayer most recently?

Censer: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Revelation 8:5

“Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightening, and an earthquake.”

Eugene H. Peterson borrows the phrase “Reversed Thunder” from the poet George Herbert. “Prayer reenters history with incalculable effects. Our earth is shaken daily by it.”

From the very beginning of His public ministry Jesus walked in prayer.

He quoted from scripture; He prayed for immediate needs before Him; He spent long quiet early mornings wrestling in solitude.

We are cocooned by our limited perception of our lives yet under Jesus’ authority our eyes and ears can be opened to possibilities under His power and His purpose.

When we are willing to listen and trust and follow.

“Prayer is as much outer as inner. It is the most practical thing anyone can do. It is not mystical escape, it is historical engagement. Prayer participates in God’s actions. God gathers our cries and our praises, our petitions and intercessions, and uses them.” Eugene H. Peterson

And we are included—invited to participate. Astonishing!

Lord, please keep our hearts listening and humbled to act upon your gift of prayer.  May we stay open to the prompts of your Holy Spirit and respond in faith, especially when we will never see the results.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:4

“See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a

leader and commander for the peoples.”

Mingled: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Mingled

           

            Mingled prayers

            with holy incense

            purified by grace

            compassion

            merge together

            wind swept clean

            purpose sanctified

            clarified.

Reflection: Silence: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What comfort does it give you to know that you can come to prayer upset and angry alongside with penitent and grateful?

2.     Are you willing to let God change any of your prayers into His purpose when the outcome may not be what you hoped for?

3.     In what ways does His mercy affect the consequences you may deserve from another’s prayers towards you?

Share: What seemingly impossible prayer have you seen answered?

Silence: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Revelation 8: 1-4

“Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”

First silence in heaven—holy awe. Then astonishment for us.

Our ragged, jagged, selfish, consumed, grief stricken, angry, penitent, robotic, hopeless, prideful, generic, confused, desperate prayers are accepted from each heart.  Acknowledged—Affirmed.

Then purified by grace.

Holy grace. Holy heart.

Taking our sin filled gasps and mingling them with sanctification.

Holy voice. Holy purpose.

Transforming them into possibilities.

Our bent, broken, hearts and lives and worries and battles, are acknowledged, taken seriously, and purified from false motives and faulty consequences.

To be answered in love’s authority.

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55: 3

“Incline your ear, and come to me, listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.”

Reflection: Foundation: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     In what ways does your fellowship of believers sustain you? Sustain each other?

2.     Which of these foundations are you most comfortable with? Which are you most uncomfortable with?

3.     Why do you think we need to remember the cost of communion?

Share: Which of these foundations do you most need?

Foundation: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:42

“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Foundations upon which to build. Not rigid rules to coerce participation. Instead, a fluid, organic, gathering out of respect, love, and search to worship. 

Devoted. A strong ongoing hunger to know God’s word and seek its truth and power in every aspect of life. To return to it again and again to ground actions with heart and heart into actions. Under His authority.

Fellowship. No one left alone, isolated, or ignored. Singles, families, strangers, travellers all found a safe haven to gather and share life burdens, hopes, and calling. To seek discernment. To be embraced.

Breaking of bread. Reminder of redemption, cost of new life, center of purpose, soul alignment to everlasting truth regardless of present history. Together—communal. Confidence in trial.

The prayers. Prayers of the past promises to seek once more. Prayers of protection from immediate dangers. Prayers to become attuned to God’s design, heart, purposes His way.  Prayers for healing minds, souls, and bodies. Clarity for daily decisions and choices.

Grace grounded in Christ. Community grounded in His love. Consistent throughout all generations. Ongoing invitation. Holy Spirit present.

Lord, thank you for Your foundations where we can find hope and encouragement in relationships through You to each other.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 3

“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;

though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.”

Reflection Surrounded: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Have you ever had the experience of a friend or foe consistently on your heart and mind and wonder why? How did you react?

2.     Have you ever been surprised to realize a friend had been praying for you throughout a difficult day or week and you had never told them about your situation? How did that become a witness to you of God’s personal grace?

3.     Do you find the idea of being surrounded by witnesses a comfort or a little overwhelming? Why?

Share: When have you experienced an unexplained peace in the middle of a difficult situation? How did that change your perspective?

Surrounded: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”.

We tend to look askance at anyone who claims to have invisible friends, but here we are given a promise of support by friends visible and invisible, personal friends and perfect strangers.

In times of exhaustion, fear, weakness, and indecision we often can feel lonely and isolated. We may have no sense of even how to take another step. The weight might be so heavy that physically and emotionally we are unable to move forward—or think—or feel.

And yet, even with no strength to even pray, we find ourselves lifted up and our hearts lightened.  And find that friends and family have been praying because they suddenly thought of us, or received a nudge from the Spirit, or a weight of concern.

We are grateful for the community God has blessed up with to pray for each other’s concerns and to celebrate each other’s joys. We become a witness to each other of the living presence of the Lord in our lives and are reminded to listen for those nudges to extend His grace to those around us—both known and unknown.

And when in doubt this promise helps to restore us when we see that those who have gone before us have completed their journey faithfully. We can depend on the promise of respite and relief no matter how long the process. We can believe that no matter the obstacles we will never be left behind or alone.

Witnesses before and present point the path towards joy and not fear, towards springs of living water instead of dry sand. Visible and invisible their encouragement can sustain us.

Thank you, Lord, for Your sustaining power of witness by Your Spirit’s ongoing words.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 121:7-8

“The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.

The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:35, “Women received their dead by resurrection.”

Anyone who has sat a vigil in the hospital understands the widow’s grasp for hope when the prophet Elijah took her lifeless son up to his room. She had already witnessed the miracle of provision in the oil, but could this prophet who spoke God’s word really bring back breath?

Yet she chose to trust Elijah and released his body.

And Elijah entrusted the boy to prayer and God’s power, not yet knowing the reply.

Three times he called upon the Lord for life.

And the Lord heard the prophet’s voice.

“Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” 1 Kings 17:24 Her hope had become not only her reality, but gave witness to the surety of Elijah’s words—God’s truth.  She too became a witness into faith through her suffering.

Lord, Help us to learn to trust your unseen truth regardless of the impossibilities we can see. Show us how to become living witnesses of Your words.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 140:12-13

“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

And justice for the poor.

Surely the righteous will give thanks to Thy name;

The upright will dwell in Thy presence.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Breath

Your promise stands

throughout all time

to call on Your name;

to seek Your face.

Hezekiah pleaded

his course changed

added fifteen years.

Yet we continue

to rage or despair

on our own counsel;

forget to ask.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How comfortable are you in asking God for help in all circumstances?

2.     How willing are you to accept a ‘no’ as easily as a ‘yes’? Do both replies get equal gratitude?

3.     How can knowing our transience enrich each day or burden us? How does our attitude influence that perception?

Share: What new opportunity has the Lord given you today?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

2 Kings 20:5, “Thus says the Lord, the God of your ancestor David. I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; indeed I will heal you, …. I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”

First Hezekiah brought his weakness as a king to the Lord and out of God’s strength Assyria was routed. Then the king brought his personal physical weakness before the Lord in prayer and received fifteen more years. He had the courage to ask, the faith to believe in the possibility if God so chose to say yes.

Yet, in his extended days, he put Judah and the city of Jerusalem into jeopardy by showing emissaries from Babylon all the treasures, including the house of the Lord. Was his intent to boast in the Lord? Or to intimidate Babylon? Or had he become complacent under the Lord’s favor? When faced with the consequences of his actions Hezekiah was merely grateful he could live out his reign in peace.

How do we react once a crisis has past? How quickly do we fall back into old habits, old patterns of self-centeredness? Or perhaps worse—not even seek God’s will at all, in case His answer is no.

Hezekiah first had the courage to ask. Then somewhere he lost the ability to fully live the gift of years God gave him.

Lord, help us to abide in You every moment of every day and not wait for emergencies and catastrophes to seek Your face, but instead walk with You in the fellowship You have offered us as gift every day. Then, Lord, we can remain in Your counsel, regardless of what the day might bring.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 39:4-5

“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the extent of my days,

Let me know how transient I am.

Behold, Thou hast made my days as handbreadths,

And my lifetime as nothing in Thy sight,

Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

            1. What is your immediate reaction to a serious threat? Resistance? Flight? Or hope in the Lord?

            2. How do you prepare time to listen for God’s answer in a time of crisis?

            3. At what point in a crisis do you seek the Lord’s help—before you try to solve it, or after you have failed?

            4. Do you consider that an impending threat might be an opportunity for God’s witness?

Share: How has the Lord given you His strength at a time of personal weakness?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

2 Kings 19, Hezekiah’s prayer for Israel. “Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,…… So now, O Lord our God, save us, I pray you, from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

This king did not even try to pretend Israel had any hope of success apart from the Lord. He recognized their weakness and depended on God’s strength. So he took the letter given him and laid it before God seeking guidance.

Detail by detail, step by step. Seeking wisdom—seeking clear directions.

How often do we take special time apart to truly listen down to the minute details of circumstances facing us? How often do we recognize our inadequacy from the very beginning, no matter how much experience and talent we have?

Hurrying to meet the crisis. Tossing out prayers on the run.

Restore in us, O Lord, hearts to pray deeply, to listen carefully for Your will. To come to a place of peace in You, that Your name be honored, that the world around us may know who You are.

In our weakness, in our chaos, please bring us Your peace.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 31:3-4

“For Thou art my rock and my fortress;

For Thy name’s sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.

Thou wilt pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me;

For Thou art my strength.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Spoken

old sayings once

fresh now dismissed

as irrelevant, obsolete.

an excuse to ignore

truths claiming confession

through obscurity.

at least when prophets

spoke of old listeners

knew the source

and could not cloak

dis-regard for ignorance,

took responsibility for disdain.

overt, subtle, various

ways still speak

ancestors’ message today.

audience: one to one.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Magnet

To each a different

goal perhaps

not necessarily

understood either by

intellect or vocabulary.

Concepts beyond vision

pulled by invisible ray.

Heart’s magnet setting

recalibrating after

sabotage or error,

negligence, dismay,

glimpses of approval.

Longing enough

to sustain journey.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Value

First flush of accomplishment

tinged with shy pride

slight disbelief that

success came from own passion

until now a private hope.

Hold that beginning

deep within before

pride declares territory

demands repeat performances

imitations without heart.

Allow seeds to grow

in furrowed ground

rich soil accepting seasons

of fallow and fruit

serving unseen hope.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Crumbs

A smooth uncluttered day

shaped by traffic free

roads, easy solutions

visible respect.

A carefree meal with

co-operative coworkers

a welcome home at shift’s end.

Only reached occasionally

yet crumbs enough

to continue to desire

a consistent demand .

All seen as experienced by

others; shaping envy,

crave my piece of the pie.

A just meal said deserved.

Heart fills with famine

clogged arteries.

Open handed you stretch

real life line, hope in presence

offered daily, unlimited

heart peace. Fullness.